Is it permissible to bow as a greeting?

In Kazakh tradition, it is customary for a bride to bow as a sign of respect to the elders of her new family. In return, the elders express their approval and give good wishes such as "Өркенің өссін!" (May your lineage flourish!), "Бақытты бол!" (Be happy!), and "Көп жаса, қарағым" (May you live long, dear).

Bowing as a sign of respect to elders is not considered shirk (associating partners with Allah). The Qur'an mentions that the angels prostrated to Adam, and the brothers of Prophet Yusuf bowed to him (as a greeting), which shows that bowing to a person is not inherently shirk. If it were, Allah would not have commanded the angels or allowed Yusuf’s brothers to do so. Therefore, this issue is not about belief (aqeedah), but rather falls under the category of what is halal or haram in Islamic law.

The book "al-Mawsu‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah" states: "If, according to local custom, bowing does not reach the level of ruku‘ (as in prayer), it is neither disbelief nor haram. If it does reach the level of ruku‘, some scholars say that unless it is done as an act of worship like that due to Allah, it is not disbelief or haram, but it is considered makruh (disliked)" [1]. Ibn Muflih al-Maqdisi said: "Bowing as a greeting is permissible. When Ibn Umar visited Syria, the local non-Muslims greeted him by bowing, and he did not forbid them. This is considered a form of respect among Muslims" [2].

Therefore, bowing as a sign of respect to elders is not against Islamic law.

Department of Sharia and Fatwa, Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan

• [1] "al-Mawsu‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah", 23/135.

• [2] "al-Adab al-Shar‘iyyah", 2/250.